Improvement in grand pianos



GEORGE STECK.

Improvement in Grand Pianos.

No.116,109. 5F Patemediune 20,1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE STEOK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAND PIANOS.

To atl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE STEcK, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented an Improvementin Grand Piano-Fortes; and 1 herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawing` making part of thisspecification- Figure 1 being a top View ofthe frame of a grandpiano-forte constructed with my improvement; Fig. 2, a vertical sectionthereof in a plane indicated by the line x x, Fig. l.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in both gures.

The object of this invention is to construct and arrange the iron frameand wooden case of the instrument so as to offer the lea-st possibleobstruction to the resonance ofthe sound from the strings andsounding-board. For this purpose the materials of the frame and the caseare disposed as much as possible at the sides and ends, and as little aspossible in the middle. I have succeeded to a great extent in effectingthis desirable purpose by the construction and arrangement shown in theaccompanying dra-win g. The principal feature of my invention consistsin forming an entirely open space in the iron frame back ofthe curvedbrace or bridge G, between it and the border parts F J of the frame, asshown.

Only the longitudinal braces L M O and the bridge H extend over thisspace, and they are above it and between the strings, so that they donot obstruct the sounds. The fra-mealso is so formed and proportionedthat the bridge G shall extend diagonally across the frame, as near themiddle as possible, so as to give equal strength to all parts of theframe and use the least metal. All transverse braces are thus dispensedwith. The wooden caseA fits closely around the iron frame; and, infurtherance of the object aimed at in the formation ofthe frame, onlytwo cross-timbers, O G', are required in the case under the frame, andthose are quite thin. Thus both above and below the sounding-board Rthere is but little to obstruct the sound, and consequently theinstrument has extraordinary power, fullness, and clearness oi' tone,and it is capable of bein gheard distinctly at an unusual distance.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent.is-

The improved grand piano-forte iron frame, as herein described, havingthe ent-ire space back of the bridge G and between it and the borderparts F J of the frame open and free for the transmission of sound, andarranged in connection with the wooden case, substantially as hereinspecified.

GEORGE STECK.

Witnesses:

HENRY E. ROEDER, J. S. BROWN.

